After an inspection of the ongoing work on the Thane metro, the transport minister Pratap Sarnaik asked officials to construct ‘dedicated passenger stops’ beneath metro stations between Kapurbawdi and Ghodbunder Road in Thane city. There are 8 stations on the stretch.

The Minister directed officials after he inspected the ongoing work along with the Thane Metro Corporation (TMC) officials. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Transport, officials from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Transport Department were also present during the inspection on Monday.

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In the current design, the staircases are positioned within the active road sections, posing potential safety concerns for passengers. Sarnaik highlighted the issues while demanding dedicated passenger stops beneath each metro stations planned between the Kapurbawdi and Ghodbunder Road in Thane city stretch.

Designated stops are aimed at a safer interface between metro exits and ground-level public transport, reducing the possibility of accidents and other safety concerns.

“Sarnaik instructed officials to reserve sections of the service road directly under each metro station as exclusive passenger stops. These zones will cater only to public transport vehicles. Entry of private vehicles will be barred. The move will ensure passenger safety and prevent traffic bottlenecks," the statement said.

Seggregation Of Public Private Vehicle 

To further improve the safety along the corridor, certain service-road sections for public transport vehicles only are proposed. The move is expected to reduce the congestion around metro stations.

Sarnaik also ordered the comprehensive concretisation of Ghodbunder Road. This infrastructure upgrade is crucial for improving road durability and significantly reducing long-term maintenance costs.

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By prioritising passenger safety, streamlining traffic flow and ensuring durable infrastructure, authorities aim to speed up Thane’s Urban development.